New Bojangles’ opening on Belair Road

Another Bojangles’ restaurant will open today at 343 South Belair Road in Martinez. Sara Caldwell/Staff The restaurant is owned by Tim Biakabutuka, a former University of Michigan and Carolina Panthers running back. This is Biakabutuka’s third Bojangles’ restaurant in the area, with others on Washington Road and Walton Way. Those two have been open for [...]

Another Bojangles’ restaurant will open today at 343 South Belair Road in
Martinez.

Sara Caldwell/Staff

The restaurant is owned by Tim
Biakabutuka, a former University of
Michigan and Carolina Panthers
running back.

This is Biakabutuka’s third Bojangles’
restaurant in the area, with others on
Washington Road and Walton Way.

Those two have been open for some
time, Biakabutuka said, and he felt it
was time to bring another one to the
market.

“The brand has had a presence here
for a while, but no expansion,” he
said.

After he decided to open a new
restaurant, he took his time to make
sure the location would be both
profitable for him and convenient for
area residents.

“We did a lot of driving around and
looking when we decided to open up a
new restaurant,” he said. “We look a
lot at traffic patterns and other
restaurants’ presences.”

The location on Belair had a burned-
out house on the property, so Biakabutuka had the house removed and the
restaurant was constructed from scratch.

“It’s completely new,” he said.

The restaurant will employ 35-40 employees, he said.

He lives in Fort Mill, S.C., and commutes three to four days a week to work in
Augusta. He plans to make the move to Augusta soon, however, and will enjoy not
having to spend so much time traveling.

After playing college and professional football for almost 10 years, Biakabutuka
said, he has enjoyed his new career.

“I always had a desire to do business,” he said. “It has had its challenges, but we’re
really working hard to make a difference.”

When he moves to the area, Biakabutuka said, he wants to become more involved
in the community and its residents.

“Working with Columbia County has been great, but I’m looking forward to
becoming even more active in the community,” he said.